Rays select Boldt in second round

Nebraska junior outfielder Ryan Boldt was selected in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night. The Red Wing, Minnesota native was the 53rd overall pick in the draft.

Boldt is the highest drafted Husker since 2006 when Joba Chamberlain was a first-round pick by the New York Yankees. The Huskers have now had at least one player picked in the draft for 38th straight years.

In three seasons as a Husker, Boldt hit .313 with 33 doubles, 10 triples, eight home runs and 82 RBIs. Boldt also stole 36 bases, including 20 this year, and scored 140 runs. A consistent hitter since his freshman season in 2014, Boldt produced 74 hits as a freshman, 75 as a sophomore and 74 in 2016.

Thursday marks the second time Boldt has been drafted, as he was taken in the 22nd round by the Boston Red Sox out of high school, but turned down pro baseball to play for Nebraska.